News RH&W BTV-3 announcements 2026

Latest Bluetongue Announcement March 26

latest Bluetongue BTV 3 update from Ruminant Health & Welfare

Total BTV cases 26/03/2026

There have been 327 cases of bluetongue in Great Britain in the 2025 to 2026 bluetongue season (since 1 July 2025). In:

  • England, there have been 305 cases of bluetongue – including 294 cases of only BTV-3, 4 cases of only BTV-8 and 7 cases with both BTV-3 and BTV-8
  • Wales, there have been 22 cases of BTV-3

There have been no cases in Scotland.

The location of all premises in Great Britain where one or more animals have tested positive by PCR for bluetongue serotype 3, serotype 8 or serotype 12 is available on the bluetongue case map.

There are 5 confirmed cases of BTV-3 in Northern Ireland.

Latest updates

26 March 2026 - BTV Disease Control Strategy for Scotland in 2026 for High Risk Period

An update on BTV control strategy for Scotland in 2026 was shared on 25/03/2026.

Click here for full details of the new movement restrictions for animals from 1 June 2026 until 9 September 2026 (dates may be subject to change).

24 March 2026

1 new case of BTV-8 in England was confirmed on 24 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 cow in East Sussex tested following a late term abortion/stillbirth

23 March 2026

1 new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 23 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 calf in Lancashire born blind

20 March 2026

3 new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 20 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 2 calves in Hampshire had neurological signs including star gazing and head tilt
  • 2 cows in Cumbria tested following reports of decreased fertility and the birth of a blind calf
  • 1 calf in Staffordshire born dull – small and weak and failed to adapt

19 March 2026

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 19 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 calf in Kent born with head and neck malformation and blindness – crusty lesions around muzzle and failed to thrive

One new case of BTV-8 in England was confirmed on 19 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 calf in Cornwall born with neurological signs, involuntary eye movement and discolouration around the muzzle

9 March 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 9 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 calf in Devon born with neurological signs, calf is unwilling to suck and has slight discolouration of nose
  • 1 calf in Cheshire born with neurological signs and 1 cow (dam of the calf) tested positive

6 March 2026

One new case of BTV-8 in England was confirmed on 6 March 2026 following private testing:

  • 1 bull in Cornwall tested positive for BTV-8 following private testing post semen collection

5 March 2026

Two new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 5 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 calf in Cornwall born blind and with neurological signs – several other calves with similar clinical signs were not tested
  • 2 calves in Cornwall born with neurological signs and 1 cow (dam of the twin calves) tested positive

4 March 2026

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 4 March 2026 following a report of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 4 bovines in Devon including 3 cows and the calf of one of the cows following fertility issues and abortions in the herd

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 4 March 2026 following private testing:

  • 2 barren cows in Devon tested positive following private testing

3 March 2026

Three new cases of BTV-3 in England were confirmed on 3 March 2026 following reports of suspicious clinical signs:

  • 1 calf in Cumbria with brain cavitation on postmortem
  • 1 cow tested following the birth of its calf in Staffordshire born with lesions on tongue
  • 1 newborn calf in Devon born with no brain tissue and 2 cows (one was the calf’s dam)

One new case of BTV-3 in England was confirmed on 3 March 2026 following private testing:

  • 1 cow in Oxfordshire tested positive following private testing post oocyte collection